Kayn is a true hybrid champion. Rhaast is a tanky bruiser who relies on being tanky and blocking shots for his teammates. Shadow Assassin Kayn relies on taking down squishy targets like ADC's and Mages to help his team secure more kills. This guide will show players how to build Kayn both on the tanky side and the Shadow Assassin's burst side.

Now is the Runes update and I've also got a new build for Kayn myself and I call it the Dark Trophy build since your goal in this build is to deal as much damage and get many kills also called by myself as TROPHIES (Rengar?). So Shadow Assassin or Darkin form will be covered in this Rune build since I've focused and balanced the runes to their maximum potential. So first come the Domination page, this will consist of Electrocute, Sudden Impact, Eyeball Collection and Ravenous Hunter. For the other page we'll go for Precision since you need that extra damage if you wanna go for Rhaast plus if you're Shadow Assassin, you'll have even more damage. For Precision, we'll have Legend: Bloodline and Coup de Grace. For our Key Rune we'll go Electrocute. Why? Remember that Kayn's Reaping Slash will have 2 seperate damage sources ( The Dash and the Spin). So a Reaping Slash and a basic attack will proc Electrocute maximizing the damage input. Sudden Impact will come next because it brings more damage when Kayn dashes with his Reaping Slash. If you're Rhaast you'll need that to poke for your team, if your the Shadow Assassin you'll also need that for the maximum assassinating capability. Since Kayn is a ganking-type champion, you'll go for Eyeball Collection next. This will guarantee that every time you get a kill on an enemy champion or an enemy ward, you'll get stronger. Ravenous Hunter will also be needed if you don't want to die instantly while going in with Reaping Slash. It will provide you with a way to heal by using your abilities and can even let you escape dangerous situtations. That's it for the Domination page, next is Precision. Legend: Bloodline will again provide Kayn with more survivability when he goes for a gank. This will make sure that when your skills are on cooldown, your basic attacks will heal you. Coup de Grace will make your damage against low health enemies. This is great when you are Rhaast because you can be a melee tanky bruiser assassin capable of finishing and cleaning up after fights for your team.

Items depend on what form you take, if you take Darkin go for the items that may give you more tankiness like Spirit Visage, Dead Man's Plate and some items that give health and damage as well like Titanic Hydra and Death's Dance. When going Shadow Assassin take items that may increase one-shot potential and mobility like Duskblade of Draktharr and Statikk Shiv. Buying items strategically depending on the form you take will ensure that you bring full-potential to a fight.

So Reaping Slash first because it's dash and spin both deal damage and will make jungler clears fast for you. So second is Blade's Reach for the slow is good and both the range and damage is pretty nice. It can also be used for ganks. Then, level-up Shadow Step because you need to heal some HP now and then and gank lanes for your teammates advantages Lastly, you need to max Umbral Trespass whenever possible because this is your primary dodge skill and you'll use it whenever to dodge skills or escape from a fight. So the way you gank is Shadow Step to a wall so they can't see you coming, then Blade's Reach for the knock-up if you're a Darkin and slow if your the Shadow Assassin, then Reaping Slash for the damage in the dash and if you haven't taken them down yet you Umbral Trespass and they're pretty much dead.

So okay spells are standardly Flash used for the ganks, escapes and to chase down strugglers. Smite is used for jungling, for jungle clears and when you upgrade Smite, you'll either go the Challenging or Chilling type, you can either burst them down or even chase them all around. So it's up to you whether you go Challenging Smite or Chilling Smite.

Kayn Pros and Cons
Pros:
-High mobility
-Highly Versatile
-Good Damage Early Game
-Unique Gank and Jungle Paths
-Fast jungle clears

Cons:
-Many type of abilities
-Small Range
-Once you've chosen a side you can't change to the other one
-High Skill Floor

Kayn is one of the few basic champions like Jayce, Elise and Gnar who can change forms. However, Kayn is a bit different from these champions. Kayn is the true definition of a true hybrid champion. Once you pick a side, you'll either be a tank or an assassin. So be careful when you pick sides because it will determine the outcome of most of your games.

Kayn can solo jungle without a leash. Some Kayn players go Blue Sentinel or Red Brambleback. Well in this guide we'll talk about a different jungle pathing. You'll start Raptors first and with Reaping Slash. Yup you heard me right, go raptors first. When you go with raptor always be sure to kite effectively. Doing this will ensure lesser damage dealt to you but don't smite it, you still need smite in Red and Blue/Wolves. Killing raptors will surely get you to level 2. Then go to Red, Level Shadow Step for sustain in killing Red. Now smite Red and that'll lead you halfway to level 3 so got to Rift Scuttler and take him down, bonus exp. and some health back right?Noy you're level 3 level up Blade's Reach and go to wolves and if you're low smite them. Go to blue afterwards and this time I'm sure you're level 3 and 3/4 to level 4. When you done Blue it's either you back or kill Gromp. Cause I know some players rely to much on farming so I wouldn't blame you. Just make sure afterwards you look for a possible gank and secure the kill.

So primarily Kayn is a versatile champion with 2 capable forms either a tanky-bruiser called Rhaast who excels at tanking the enemy team while also dealing a bunch of damage, or either a Shadow Assassin who is swift and prioritizes important enemies during a fight.

Rhaast:
When you go Rhaast you become this tanky-bruiser of a champion who is good at both dealing damage and tanking enemy damage quite effectively. So what you need to do is initiate for your team using your Blade's Reach and knock them up in the air. Doing this will provide your team with a short period of time to reach them and pin them down. Also, remember to tank a few shots for your team as well because you are also a tank but don't let the enemy team pin you down because when you die you'll provide not only EXP to the enemy team but also might cause the loss of your team as well because they don't have enough fighting strength so remember to always be careful even when is this form.

Shadow Assassin:
When you go Shadow Assassin you should remember that you are squishy, so be careful in teamfights. What you need to do is take out the enemy team's top priority champions, specifically the ADC and the Mid-laner Mage. Just [Shadow Step to a wall look for squishy targets and then Blade's Reach and Reaping Slash them. This can be done at the same time because when your'e a Shadow Assassin you're Blade's Reach creates a shadow providing you with time to cast another spell. By the time this is done with Duskblade of Draktharr they will be dead trust me. Then you either get out or continue fighting if the Mid-laner is still there and you would probably attack him then Umbral Trespass to the Mid-laner, so this will provide your Reaping Slash and Blade's Reach to be ready at the moment you pop out. When you pop-out of the Mid-laner, you Blade's Reach him and then Reaping Slash him then he'll be dead. That's the time when you get out of there, but when you get pinned down you'll be dead. So always remember to provide yourself with ways to get out of that situation. That's all you have to do as a Shadow Assassin.

So Farming is really easy for Kayn. My main jungle route is go raptors first with a Hunter's Machete for more damage and a Refillable Potion. When you go to raptors, take Reaping Slash first. Then kite effectively for minimal damage dealt to you. When you finish raptors, you have probably consumed a charge of the Refillable Potion. Then go to Red Brambleback and level Shadow Step. This will provide you with more sustain while clearing Red Brambleback. Then smite Red Brambleback and go straight to Rift Scuttler and kill it. This time you should be level 3 then level up Blade's Reach. Go to Wolves and you either smite it or just clear it without using smite if your not rushing to Blue Sentinel. Then after killing Wolves, go to Blue Sentinel, When doing this smite the Blue Sentinel if you haven't smited Wolves yet. After this you back to base or look for a possible gank. It's up to you this time. When you've chosen a side, you should prioritize looking for ganks and counter jungling rather than just staying in jungle for too long. Doing this will lead to your team's victory because their jungler will be on lower levels than you and if you ganked effectively during the last few ganks, the enemy team should be under-leveled compared to your team so it's up to you.

So Kayn in the early game is really good with jungle clears and even holding out a lane while his teammates are going back to base. As Kayn you should be focusing in objectives like Dragon/Baron/Turrets to make the most advantage for your team. Also try looking for some early ganks as well to let your team have the advantage, the first turret in the game is the most important objective you must secure and then Dragon. Taking down the first turret in the game not only applies early game pressure, but also map-control. Especially that first turret in the bot-lane will help you secure Dragon. So always try and get ahead of the enemy team. If they have a jungler like Nunu & Willump or Elise that counter-jungles you, try and get some help from your teammates and kill the opposing jungler. Also using pings in the early game will help your team with early game advantages. Using the "On my way" ping ensures your teammate that you are going for a gank and might even ensure you a kill so use it almost everytime. Being a Jungler means that you need to have map-awareness and even map-control.

Kayn is really a good champion in the early game, he can clear fast and has mobility all the way across the map with his Shadow Step. In the early game, your primary objective is farming up and looking for some early kills. As Kayn, you need to get your form as soon as you can. So farm up and when you think that a lane can be gankable or needs help, always be there to help your team out. Also use pings to ensure your teammates that your coming to their lane, or warn them about missing enemies across the map. Having a fantastic early game ensures that your team has the higher advantage against the opposing team.

Mid-game is the time when you'll be choosing a side, either you'll be an Assassin or a Tanky-Bruiser. So your mid game depends on what form you'll take.

When you take Rhaast, your primary goal is to disrupt the enemy team and also tank a few shots for your team. Your role is a tanky-bruiser but remember that your still not a full-tank so be careful. You should just dish out some damage and then either continue pulverizing the enemy team or back off and wait for cooldowns. A combo to do this is Blade's Reach the enemy team and you will surely hit some enemies, unless they Flash and are too afraid of you. Then after knocking them up, Reaping Slash towards the target and Umbral Trespass inside them to prevent them from dishing out so much damage to you. That's when you either back off and let your team finish the job, or wait for your cooldowns inside the enemy and then jump out and attack them again using your Reaping Slash and Blade's Reach. Doing this will surely secure you a kill or two and even making the enemy team retreat. When they retreat, secure some objectives like Baron/Elder Dragon. That's how you play Rhaast by being a mid-term tank who also deals damage then back off a fight since you are not fully a tank.

When you play Shadow Assassin, try securing some kills for your team. Try roaming for the map and when you spot an enemy squishy like if for instance is the enemy team's Malzahar, kill him instantly then go back to the shadows. Doing this will not only win you the team fights, but will also reduce the threat of objective steals (Baron/Dragon). But also try to aware of wards. Try upgrading to Sweeping Lens and taking out some wards. Your role as a Shadow Assassin is to dish out tons of damage and taking out alone enemy champions then going back to your team. Don't over-extend to the enemy team map for this will likely be a trap and will lead you to your death. Always remember that you are squishy too and one they caught you off-guard, you are pretty much done for. So be map-aware at all times and take out objectives silently while the enemy team is busy pushing or defending their base.

This time, even though what form you take their is only one objective in the game, try and win the game with your team. Kayn is also good at back-door tactics using his Shadow Step to creep to the enemy base silently. Remember, try and make the best out of your items and your skills. One way or another you'll be clashing and team fighting a lot so try to eliminate the enemy team as quickly as possible. This time in the game is your weakest point, but don't worry cause you deal tons of damage anyway. But anyway, this point of the game is when ADC's will one shot you or with 5 Auto Attacks. So try and be careful. Try to damage the enemy team without over-extending yourself. Always try and be aware if they are preparing for an ambush, securing an objective or pushing a lane. Try to keep this tips in mind and you'll be fine and win the game for sure.

So primarily Kayn is a champion which is good at being an Assassin or Bruiser. Kayn is good at taking down enemies from a safe distance while even dodging attacks with his Ult Umbral Trespass. Even though he needs a high amount of skill to play due to the fact that he can be played as an Assassin or a Bruiser, he can be fun to use. Ever since the Runes update there have been some major changes to my guide of Kayn since I had to maximize and balance him because he has 2 forms. This guide covers thos 2 forms and will guide you to Kayn's maximum potential. Kayn in the jungle is good to players and they will definitely excel at strategy-making and Map-Awareness. If you play him well, your team will be above the enemy team in both gold and EXP while playing him bad, makes your team under-leveled and you will have to carry the game harder at this point. But Kayn can carry quite well depending on how well you play him so to those people who want to play Kayn, I wish you guys good luck and also:

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